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Technology Stocks : Apple Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: WebDrone who wrote (25171)	6/17/1999 2:23:00 PM
From: Richard Habib	Respond to of 213182

Here is an article on AppleInsider on G4 issues. I still believe G4 speed vs yield problems are the issue and those issues are the result of the large die size of MOTs G4. Apple Plays Dirty As G4 Problems Persist By Kasper (Kasper@AppleInsider.com) June 17, 1999 With all the controversy surrounding the G4 processor and its rumored delays, we have yet more fuel to add to the fire. Rumor has it that a recent firmware update issued for Apple's new blue and white Power Macintosh G3s runs a series of additional processor checks in the FlashROM. After the firmware update has been applied, these units will fail to boot with the presence of a G4 processor card. "Apple has intentionally disable the ability to use a G4 processor card in the current Blue & White G3s via its new firmware update," one source said. "We know this was done intentionally because the previous version of firmware does not have a problem with the presence of a G4 processor." It appears that firmware which shipped on the initial rev of B&W Power Macintosh G3s does not run these processor checks, and boots cleanly in the presence of a G4 processor. However, the units currently shipping from Apple and any of the original units that have been updated with the recent firmware patch, will hear death chimes when attempting to boot with a G4 card installed. (It's currently unclear exactly when in the production process that Apple began shipping units with the updated firmware.) Folks who own a Beige Power Macintosh G3 are not threatened, as these units do not contain a flashable ROM. Jumping to conclusions, it appears that the firmware update, while ideally meant to correct a PCI performance problem dealing with the memory controler, also sets out to disable Power Macintosh G3 machines from being upgraded to a G4 via third party accelerator boards. Of course Apple can claim that there are some technical reasons pertaining to the timing or voltage of the new processor that would cause "potential problems," causing them to release the update. Then again, sometime down the line Apple may choose to issue a ROM updater that will remove the trap; presumably after the Power Macintosh G4 has shipped. According to reliable developer sources, it would be extremely difficult for accelerator companies to reverse engineer the flash process and then patch out the one test that causes a system booting with a G4 to fail. A Microsoft like tactic or a temporary restraint, it's really up to Apple and no one else. In other news, rumor has it that Apple is having some problems with stability on the G4 test systems currently in-house. The most recent word from sources is that Apple will begin seeding test units of the Power Macintosh G4, code named Sawtooth, in August in anticipation of a release sometime later this year. The image you see above is a side to side comparison of a copper 350MHz IBM G3 processor and a copper 350MHz Motorola G4 prototype, passed along by sources. The die is about 2.4 times larger in area on the G4 than the it is on the G3. This means it will cost significantly more to manufacture the G4 than the G3 and, MHz for MHz, the G3 will offer faster speeds because of its smaller die. Much more on the G4 as we head into the Fall.

To: WebDrone who wrote (25171)	6/17/1999 2:51:00 PM
From: Richard Habib	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 213182

These flat screen all in ones like the new Z1 really are not derived from iMac CRT design. The all in one flat screen has a separate linage that predates iMac. They have been in Japan for a while. Don't know if you saw the segment with Moss on CNBC. The Z1 looks like a pretty innovative deal. The one downside to all in one designs is the lack of upgradability for the monitor. Despite some of the gearheads comments here and elsewhere, upgradability for any component other than the monitor is not an issue, especially in the consumer market. Upgradability is a hold over from the PC hobby days and is indulged in by such a small segment of the consumer market as to be irrelevent. But upgrading monitors is a different story. The ability to open a latch and slide the screen of the Z1 out and replace it with a larger screen is quite attractive. The ability to then place the removed screen into a separate frame and use it in another computer is very innovative. The qualtiy of the screen is supposed to be excellent but we will have to see some reviews. Likewise PB has such a poor rep in the U.S. now, we'll have to wait and see if there are problems. Don't think this has all that much to do with the Mac market although as a PC user that was going to switch, a design like this does make me hesitate. By the way Web, Windows 2000 is the renamed NT 5.0. It's not being marketed to consumers. It's an enterprise system that would be pretty difficult for a consumer. The old plan of wrapping the NT and consumer windows together is no longer the plan so Win 98 will continue as a consumer OS with it's own upgrade cycle. You indicated some confusion regarding Win 2000. Rich